"The first victory we can claim is that our hearts are free of hatred. Hence we say to those who persecute us and who try to dominate us: ‘You are my brother. I do not hate you, but you are not going to dominate me by fear. I do not wish to impose my truth, nor do I wish you to impose yours on me. We are going to seek the truth together’. THIS IS THE LIBERATION WHICH WE ARE PROCLAIMING."
Oswaldo José Payá Sardiñas (2002)

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Oswaldo Paya’s daughter addresses UN Human Rights Council

On March 12, 2013 at the United Nations Human Rights Council the Castro regime with some of the other of the worse human rights violators of the world tried to censor this two minute speech. What where they afraid of? Read on and you be the judge.

My name is Rosa Maria Payá, of the Christian Liberation Movement anddaughter of its national coordinator Oswaldo Payá, opposition leader and Sakharov Prize laureate of the European Parliament.

My father dedicated his life to working for legal and nonviolentchange for Cubans to enjoy all their rights.

He promoted the Varela Project, a referendum supported by over 25,000citizens, who have defied repression to demand changes in the law that guarantee freedom of expression, association, free elections, freedom of nonviolent political prisoners and the possibility of having private companies.

So far the government has refused to realize this plebiscite andimprisoned the majority of its leaders.

Yosvani Melchor Rodríguez is 30 years old and has spent three inprison as punishment because his mother is a member of our movement.

Cuban authorities said my father and Harold Cepero, a youth activist,died in a traffic accident. But after interviewing the survivors, we confirmed that their deaths were not accidental. The driver of the car told the Washington Post, that they were intentionally rammed from behind. The text messages from the survivors on the day of the event
confirm this.

The Cuban government’s state security calls my family home in Havanato say: We're going to kill you. They are the same death threats that were made to my father. The physical integrity of all members of my family is the responsibility of the Cuban government.

Today we present an appeal, signed by 46 political leaders andactivists from around the world. We urge the United Nations to launch an independent investigation into the death of my father.

The truth is essential to the process of reconciliation that thetransition to democracy in Cuba needs. We do not seek revenge, we have a right to know:

Who are responsible for the death of my father?

When will there be a response to the demands of human rights of thepeople of Cuba to enjoy democracy and basic freedoms?